54 
SURVIVAL OK LAND AND SEA 
purposes. They also are very curious and in a short time some 
of them may not be able to hold back any longer and will come 
to see what you are doing. When they do, hand them the string 
and they will probably show you a few tricks. If you don’t 
have string take out some trinket and show interest in it. They 
will want to see, too. Once the ice is broken, you can go 
ahead and ask for what you need. This method of approach has 
been used many times in many parts of the world by those going 
to study native peoples and rarely has it failed to produce the 
desired results. 
Most native houses are small and crowded and more often 
than not are infested with fleas, lice, bedbugs, and other disease- 
carrying creatures. It is strongly advised that you do not stay 
in them unless compelled by extreme circumstances. If it is 
apparent that you are to be there for some time they can and 
probably will be willing to build you a shelter in short order. 
Of course, one should never enter a native house without being 
invited. They don’t like to have strangers come barging into 
their homes any more than you would. Without making it 
seem that you are doing so, it is advisable to avoid as much as 
possible all physical contacts with the natives. They often 
suffer from serious skin diseases, syphilis, tuberculosis, and 
other communicable ailments. If it can be done without giving 
offense, one should prepare his own food and drink in such 
surroundings. 
Should it be necessary for you to remain with a native group 
for any length of time you must be very observant and learn from 
experience what you can and can not do. Respect their customs 
and manners. They have an entirely different form of etiquette 
from ours, but one that they believe in as strongly as we do in 
